• When

    20, 26 and 27 September 2025

  • Location

    Questacon Technology Learning Centre, 60 Denison St, Deakin ACT

  • Time

    6 hours

  • Book tickets

About

This Biodiversity month, learn how to make your own needle-felted mudskippers with Questacon!

You will be guided by Darwin-based and nationally renowned textile artist Melanie Tribe, who specialises in vibrant 3D needle felted sculptures. Melanie is also an experienced educator and has taught beginners the art of transforming wool fibres into textured, lifelike creations.

 

​What you can expect

  • ​Enjoy 6 hours of expert instruction from textile artist Melanie Tribe in a small group of 14 participants 

  • ​You will receive a kit with all the materials and tools, which you can take home and continue creating after the workshop 

  • ​Take home your own felted mudskipper at the end of the workshop 

  • ​Enjoy morning tea pastry, tea and coffee 

About the facilitator

Specialising in dry needle felting, Melanie Tribe sculpts vibrant 3D forms — such as mangrove crabs, lobsters, and mudskippers — using dyed wool fibres and wire frames, capturing the essence of Darwin’s coastal ecosystems. Her work often reflects her deep connection to the local environment, particularly the mangrove forests, which inspire her detailed and tactile artworks.

Melanie’s artistic journey is rooted in her passion for nature and community engagement. She collaborates with fellow artists on projects like the Mangrove Ecosystem Installation, which combines recycled materials and felted sculptures to educate audiences about coastal biodiversity. This project has garnered national attention and is exhibited at Questacon, Australia’s premier science museum.

 

Things to know

  • ​This beginner-friendly workshop is suitable for people age 16+. You do not need to have knowledge or experience of felting or textile craft. 

  • ​The event is held at the Questacon Technology Learning Centre, 60 Denison Street in Deakin, right next door to the Royal Australian Mint. 

  • ​For more information, contact events@questacon.edu.au